Water Grill - San Diego

Name: Water Grill - San Diego
Address: 615 J Street, San Diego, CA, United States, 92101
Telephone: (619) 717-6992
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.6

4.6

3010 Reviews

$31 to $50

Seafood

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Located steps away from Petco Park in the heart of Downtown San Diego, Water Grill is a true seafood destination. Family owned and operated, Water Grill focuses on first-of-the-season seafood and has delivered a superior dining experience for more than 30 years. Their devotion to quality seafood sourced in-house, is illustrated on their daily menus.

Sourcing from local fishermen, Water Grill’s seafood arrives from boat to table in a matter of hours. Water Grill Executive Chefs prepare the dishes with care, allowing the fresh seafood to shine, while using high-quality ingredients to elevate the recipe. From Spiny Lobsters in the fall to Wild Salmon in the spring, Water Grill’s focus is all about local, sustainable seafood and a one-of-a-kind experience.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Jun 10, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 73 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(619) 717-6992

Private dining

Book your next event with us

View details

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Cuisines
Seafood, American, Fine cuts
Hours of operation
Mon–Thu, Sun 11:30 am–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:30 am–11:00 pm
Phone number
(619) 717-6992
Website
http://www.watergrill.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive chef
Jason Gethin
Private party facilities
Whether celebrating a special occasion with family and friends or hosting a corporate outing, Water Grill - San Diego can accommodate all your special event needs.
Private party contact
Arian James : (619) 717-6992

Location
615 J Street, San Diego, CA 92101
Neighborhood
Downtown / Gaslamp
Cross street
6th Avenue and J Street
Parking details
Street Parking
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

100 San Diego Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

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What 3,010 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6

4.6 based on recent ratings

4.5Food
4.6Service
4.6Ambience
4.1Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

San Diego
Seafood

RO
RebeccaO
Portland
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 5 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great service, prompt ordering and delivery. Food was incredible!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Diego
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
This place is so much better than Mister As!!! The reason why we came late (10pm Saturday) at this restaurant was because we wanted to try Mister As first since they close earlier. It was my birthday weekend and my fiancé wanted me to try places I wanted to try. So anyway, The ambience was amazing! Everyone was lively and even the staff was jolly and seemed like they loved what they do. The customers were bubbly but not boisterously. It is an open concept so it was not hot nor cold. Air was coming in from the outside. The food menu offered so many options from seafood to sushi and even steaks! So much better than the first place! Crazy! We had a dozen of Western Oysters and boy the habanero-lime relish was the star!!! Their mignonette was unforgettable as well! We also had the KING CRAB CALIFORNIA ROLL and wow it was the best sushi twist we have ever had!! The butter nikiri and fried leeks were amazing that they balanced the taste of the sushi dipped in soy sauce! Lastly, we got the Wild Maryland Soft-shell Crab. That dish was a balance of sweetness (due to the watermelon and cucumber) and saltiness due to the sauce and flavors of the crab itself. It blew our mind! Our waitstaff/server was great and her name was Lyndsay. She was knowledgeable and kind and gave us recommendations! We shall be back for sure for date nights or just cravings!
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LM
LauraM
San Francisco
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
If you want to eat well in the Gaslamp and also feel that you are part of a bustling scene, this is a perfect place to be. The food is expensive, as the cocktails are, but they are exceptionally good, too. The service is very professional and somehow warm at the same time. Highly recommend the chowder--best I've had in San Diego.
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MB
MichaelB
San Diego
10 reviews
vip
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on May 31, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
A bit pricey, but the quality of the food, the imagination, preparation and delivery are all first rate. Especially liked the 'no corkage fee' policy for bringing in a bottle of wine.
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JB
JohnB
Sacramento
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 31, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fabulous food, drinks and service. Love the WG!!!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Phoenix
225 reviews
vip
5.0
225 reviews
Dined on May 31, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food‼️ Great atmosphere‼️ Great service by Chris‼️
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JL
JamesL
San Diego
11 reviews
vip
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on May 31, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great location and ambiance. Food is very good and Kentucky Preacher on the rocks is an excellent bourbon cocktail.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on May 29, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
Service was great. The waiter was very knowledgeable and friendly.
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J
Jason
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 29, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
A colleague recommended we eat at Water Grill and it was delicious! 5-stars. Fresh oysters, a variety of expertly-sourced seafood, knowledgeable servers, and a subdued cosmopolitan vibe. We were visiting and all agreed it is a requisite destination upon our return.
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BD
BreanaD
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 29, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We came here for dinner during our honeymoon and it was amazing. The food was delicious. The ambience was great. The staff was friendly. Our waiter, Niko, made our night. He gave us lots of great suggestions and was very helpful. We will definitely be coming back.
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TP
TaylorP
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 28, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food was incredible! I savored every bite. My friend and I were unsure about which oysters to try and the waitress was super helpful. Best Bloody Mary I’ve had in San Diego so far and the sushi was delicious. Def recommend
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M
Momof3
San Diego
159 reviews
vip
5.0
159 reviews
Dined on May 27, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Nicolas was an amazing server ! The recommendations he made were great. The shrimp appetizer was great. My hubby had crab legs- so good! And I had the halibut which was outstanding. The key lime pie was dessert was amazing too. The service though was the star of the show :)
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KM
KevinM
Orange County
9 reviews
vip
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on May 27, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great place for seafood and drinks!! The service was fantastic- They even decorated our table with rose petals to help us celebrate our wedding anniversary- nice touch!😊
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F
Floydie
Hawaii
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 27, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Amazing! Honeymoon oysters are amazing! The Chilean bass was the best cooked fish I ever ate!
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CD
CathrynD
Orange County
5 reviews
vip
1.0
5 reviews
Dined on May 23, 2023
overall1food1service3ambience2
My husband became very, very sick after dinner he had the Chiopino (sp?) seafood Soup--he has never had this problem before
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NE
NEBs
Washington DC
29 reviews
5.0
29 reviews
Dined on May 23, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
I have no bad things to say about this experience. I enjoyed it so much that I had already scheduled my next reservation before I finished my appetizer.
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JE
JanE
San Diego
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 20, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
We chose Water Grill for our anniversary dinner before a Padre game. Excellent! We had the best oyster sampler, followed by a delicious clam chowder. Shaun, our wonderful server, saved the last Spiny Lobster for us & it was devine! He then brought us an amazing slice of Key Lime Pie on the house. What a great meal!!! Can’t wait to go back!
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PD
PrincessDi
Austin
29 reviews
vip
5.0
29 reviews
Dined on May 19, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience5
I ordered the Big Eye Tuna and it was just way too spicy for me. My Wedge Salad was awesome so was the Chardonnay Wine and Dinner Rolls. Wish I would have ordered the Chilesn Sea Bass instead. My Waiter Brian was very nice and very attentive.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Tallahassee
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on May 19, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Delicious food and cocktails. Our waiter Joey was top-notch! Highly recommend and would definitely eat here again.
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DM
DeneenM
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We went to Water Grill on Mother's Day. Everything was very good, the food, the service, and the drinks. A little pricey but worth it!
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R
Robert
Chicago
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
I have been here many times and its always great. Fantastic food, consistently great service. One of my favorite seafood places in San Diego.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Diego
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall5food3service5ambience4
Always a lovely setting. The service from the hostess, server (Jordan) and the bartender that brought my wife her old fashion drink.
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c
criticalmouth
San Diego
6 reviews
4.0
6 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience4
We went here for Mother’s Day lunch. This place is very overpriced. The service was impeccable , and the urban ambiance fantastic. However, some of the dishes left a lot to be desired. The cioppino broth was too rich. The soft shell crab had so much egg in it that I couldn’t taste the crab itself. Despite the excellent Spanish octopus dish, I’m not coming back.
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LM
LeoM
San Diego
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We were promptly sat at the requested booth seating of choice. The food was quality - delicious, fresh, and temperatures on point. What made our experience - a mother’s day lunch - so special was the service provided by everyone, but notably by Roberto, our server. I encounter maybe 1-2 top quality servers a year and we dine out quite frequently. Roberto was professional, courteous, warm and went the extra mile. He was by far one of the best servers we’ve had. He made the dining experience very special and memorable. Compliments to the chef as well. Bravo Water Grill!
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PO
PaulO
San Diego
13 reviews
4.0
13 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
Very nice place, warm cozy with a nice ambiance. Great service! A bit on the pricey side but a great special occasion place. My ,Scampi sauce was lacking consistency and perhaps a bit oily but delicious nonetheless.
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DV
DonnaV
Chicago
28 reviews
vip
5.0
28 reviews
Dined on May 9, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The Chilean Sea Bass was delicious and comforting. Margarita Verde is a fav. Do not skip the rolls.
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PG
PhillipG
San Diego
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on May 8, 2023
overall1food1service1ambience1
We were treated very poorly after leaving a Padres game on Sunday, May 7, 2023. Maybe because we were in Padres gear. Had a reservation, but was still given an undesirable table. Clam chowder came before drinks and while other person was in restroom. Had three pieces of clams in it. Didn't proceed with dinner order. The manager, Jackie Depippo said she would send us some sort of compensation or incentive to eat there again. Crickets. Overpriced mediocre restaurant. Avoid at all costs!!
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n
nicoleg
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on May 7, 2023
overall3food3service4ambience3
This restaurant was very pricey for what it was. There were very few reasonably priced items on the menu that were not appetizers. The main courses were about $50 and came with essentially nothing else (the fish I ordered was just a nice piece of fish on a plate with a small swirl of butternut squash puree) You had to order sides if you wanted any vegetables, which then increased the price to around $65. For that price, everything should have been far more upscale. The food was good but not so exceptional that it was worth the cost.
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MT
MichaelT
Phoenix
8 reviews
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on May 7, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Impressive seafood and excellent service for our business dinner
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WA
WorthAVisit
San Diego
24 reviews
vip
4.0
24 reviews
Dined on May 7, 2023
overall4food4service3ambience3
Come in for the bread and cocktail, stay for the grilled octopus.
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R
Rastratton
San Diego
191 reviews
vip
3.0
191 reviews
Dined on May 6, 2023
overall3food2service3ambience4
we have enjoyed Water Grill many times but this time the crab knuckles were terrible. previously they were full, juicy and full of delicious crab. this time, small and dry with not much crab.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Hawaii
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on May 6, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We had the spicy lobster roll and beet salad both were delicious. Someone had a king crab the size of a bowling ball. They said it was good.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on May 6, 2023
overall2food2service4ambience2
Olace was packed and loud. Server was the best part of the meal. Professional and funny. Food was no where bewr worth the price we paid. A chilean sea bass should be buttery and flakey in a tender way. Ours was chewy. Arugula beat salad was ok, but not worth 20$ or more. We paid 180$ for a meal that should of been 60. Sorry, but the truth
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Wilmington
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on May 5, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Always on my top three places to dine while in San Diego!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
New Orleans
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 4, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent staff! Recommendations, service, willingness to make adjustments, all top notch.
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P
Poki
San Diego
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on May 4, 2023
overall3food3service3ambience3
My wife’s favorite dish is cioppino. The version at Water Grill had very good fish and excellent, mussels and clams. However, the Dungeness crab claws and unpeeled shrimp in the tomato sauce, were extremely difficult to peel making the experience less than desirable.
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S
Simo
London
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 3, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Thank you all for everytHing! It was amazing! Great atmosphere, lovely food and outstanding service!
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A
Anonymous
San Diego
7 reviews
vip
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on May 2, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fantastic dinner with friends and family. Lindsey was pleasant and very attentive as well as the hostess when we first walked in.
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M
Mojoo
San Francisco
172 reviews
vip
3.0
172 reviews
Dined on May 2, 2023
overall3food2service5ambience5
Great ambience, attentive service(Matthew) and a nice complimentary birthday dessert. Pricey! Had the following… Appetizer…crab cake- too much filler, little crab, salty.. shrimp cocktail ..ok Cioppino… nice presentation..too many mushy mussels, only two clams, overcooked fish, tasty shrimp, needed more seasonings for this bowl. Scallops…undercooked and lack of seasonings Caesar salad…Tasty,however, too much salad dressing Was impressed with the delicious sour dough rolls/butter Perhaps, this place would be great for drinks and appetizers. Close to PETCO ballpark.
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M
Markh
Las Vegas
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on May 2, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Great experience, service was on point and the meal was delicious!
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FAQs

Water Grill - San Diego offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (619) 717-6992.

Water Grill - San Diego is rated 4.6 stars by 3010 OpenTable diners.

Water Grill - San Diego does offer gift cards which you can purchase here.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Jun 10, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 73 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(619) 717-6992

615 J Street, San Diego, CA 92101

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross street
6th Avenue and J Street
Neighborhood
Downtown / Gaslamp
Hours of operation
Mon–Thu, Sun 11:30 am–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:30 am–11:00 pm
Cuisines
Seafood, American, Fine cuts
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
Street Parking
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Executive chef
Jason Gethin
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.watergrill.com/
Phone number
(619) 717-6992
Private party facilities
Whether celebrating a special occasion with family and friends or hosting a corporate outing, Water Grill - San Diego can accommodate all your special event needs.
Private party contact
Arian James : (619) 717-6992

Featured in

100 San Diego Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

Gift card

Send gift cards instantly by email or print to present in person.

Send a gift card

Water Grill - San Diego

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

Private dining

Dining areas

Additional information

Featured in

100 San Diego Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

Gift card

Menu

What 3,010 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

FAQs

Does Water Grill - San Diego offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Water Grill - San Diego restaurant rated?

Does Water Grill - San Diego offer gift cards?

Is Water Grill - San Diego currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

Featured in

100 San Diego Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

Gift card